Chapter 295: Brother Feng, Old Feng, Master Feng

If Niu Youdao insisted on looking at it from his own side, then yes—he had dared make sport of another man's daughter, and now her father had conveniently taken the opportunity to deal with him too.

Niu Youdao had been watching only the gains and losses of his own little group. The emperor, by contrast, had been watching a vast crowd that included Niu Youdao and his people as merely one small part of the whole.

No wonder, no matter how much Niu Youdao had thought about it, he could not find any reason for the emperor to target him. The emperor had never limited his sights to Niu Youdao in the first place. He meant to deal with a great many people at once, Niu Youdao included. The difference in breadth of vision was immediately obvious.

"This Hao Yuntu is rather interesting." Niu Youdao gave a humorless smile.

He had been toyed with through sheer disregard, and there was not even anything he could say about it.

Linghu Qiu rolled his eyes. "Who told you to provoke his daughter? You thought his daughter was easy to toy with. This time you kicked an iron plate, didn't you?"

Niu Youdao spread his hands. "What's it got to do with me? I've already transferred the exit permits for those one hundred thousand warhorses. The transfer agreement is in my hands. Nothing should happen to me."

Privately, he was wondering whether Feng Entai now wanted to smash his head into a wall. Niu Youdao had already felt something was wrong with this windfall last night. Feng Entai had still insisted that he accept it. Well, wasn't this wonderful now?

Linghu Qiu asked, "You're talking about Tianyu Sect? Heh. You're thinking too simply. The rumors outside have nothing whatsoever to do with Tianyu Sect. They only say that the exit permits are in your hands, Niu Youdao. Not one word mentions Tianyu Sect!"

"What do you mean?" Niu Youdao snapped around and asked.

Linghu Qiu said, "How would I know what it means?"

Niu Youdao was a little dumbfounded. "Lady Pei and the others personally witnessed everything last night. Those things were given to Tianyu Sect."

Linghu Qiu said, "Then go ask Lady Pei. You ask me—who am I supposed to ask?"

Then he sighed. "I say, you'd better handle this properly and quickly. Little Brother, don't blame me for abandoning you if you don't. I'll have to run for it."

"I can't afford this. People will die."

"You may enjoy courting death, but I'd still like to live a few more years."

"Heh. Now this is interesting." Niu Youdao actually laughed. "Looks like the emperor really does intend to take the opportunity to help his daughter give me a taste of trouble."

He understood what Linghu Qiu meant. Linghu Qiu was not truly saying he would simply abandon Niu Youdao. He was telling him to produce the transfer agreement with Tianyu Sect and clear his own name, proving that the permits were already in Tianyu Sect's hands. Then anyone looking for trouble could go find Tianyu Sect instead. Just then, Gongsun Bu and the people from the three sects arrived almost one after another.

They had heard the rumors outside but knew nothing of what had happened the previous night, so they had come to ask whether the story was true.

"No need. I already know." Niu Youdao waved a hand and pointed at Linghu Qiu, indicating that Linghu Qiu had already told him.

Wu Shaohuan, who had only one arm, looked anxious. He was the man Liuxian Sect had sent to oversee its disciples here.

He asked, "What exactly happened last night?"

Niu Youdao said, "Just what the rumors say."

He did not mention the transfer to Feng Entai. If the three sects learned that the interests Niu Youdao had wanted to secure were already in hand, they might immediately leave. They would not bear such enormous risk for Tianyu Sect. Now that their objective had been achieved, they had no reason to remain in the State of Qi courting danger. Linghu Qiu glanced sideways at Niu Youdao. Naturally, he could see that Niu Youdao was deliberately concealing the truth.

"Don't worry. Nothing will happen..." Niu Youdao spent some time reassuring them before finally sending the group away.

Linghu Qiu watched coldly from the side until everyone had left, then said, "Little Brother, you aren't thinking of taking this matter onto your own shoulders, are you?"

"I'm warning you. You can't carry something this heavy."

Niu Youdao did not answer.

Instead, he looked around. "Where's Feng Entai? Even the three sects know already. Don't tell me Tianyu Sect hasn't heard."

Linghu Qiu sneered. "If you tried to give those things to him today, you couldn't make him accept them even if you beat him to death."

"He's probably regretting yesterday's decision on behalf of Tianyu Sect so badly he wants to die."

"There's no way he can explain this to Tianyu Sect."

"Let's go take a look." The moment Niu Youdao said it, he started to leave.

"Master Dao!" Black Peony suddenly called.

"Could I speak with you privately?"

Niu Youdao looked surprised and glanced at Linghu Qiu. Was there something she did not want to say in front of him?

Linghu Qiu glanced at Black Peony as well, then smiled. "It's fine. You two talk. I'll go over to Old Feng's courtyard first."

Niu Youdao followed Black Peony inside and asked, "What is it that can't be said in front of Linghu Qiu?"

Black Peony said, "Master Dao, do you remember what Linghu Qiu said just now? He said he doesn't want to court death."

Niu Youdao said, "What are you trying to say? At a time like this, do you still need to beat around the bush with me?"

Black Peony said, "Master Dao, haven't you always worried that Linghu Qiu has some hidden objective?"

"This is a perfectly legitimate opportunity to shake him off."

"You might as well pretend you're taking this matter onto your own shoulders. If he can't bear the danger and retreats because he knows it's too much for him, wouldn't that be ideal?"

Niu Youdao laughed. "In this respect, you're not as good as Monkey."

"I understand what you're thinking, but you don't understand what I'm thinking."

Black Peony was startled. "Master Dao doesn't want him to leave?"

Niu Youdao gave a low chuckle. "Once someone boards my boat, he doesn't get to come and go whenever he pleases."

"My boat isn't that easy to get off!"

Black Peony asked, "He stays beside Master Dao, yet I haven't seen Master Dao ask him to do much of anything. Could Master Dao tell me why you're keeping him?"

"Otherwise, with him staying so close to us, I don't know how far I should go in dealing with him."

"There are some things you don't need to understand too clearly." Niu Youdao reached out and playfully lifted her chin.

Black Peony slapped his hand away with a faintly annoyed look.

He laughed. "Seeing how charming the young lady is, fine. I'll teach you a lesson today—how to use people."

"When using people, you can't divide everything too rigidly into good and evil. Nor can you let personal likes and dislikes rule your judgment."

"There is a saying: trust those you use. But even someone you don't trust can still be used. The key is whether the person is useful, and whether you know how far to go."

"Take you, for example. With you, I trust the person I use."

"With him, even knowing he's suspicious doesn't stop me from using him. I only need to keep the proper measure."

"You know he wants something from me. He thinks he's plotting against me—but why shouldn't I be plotting against him as well?"

"I don't care what he wants."

"He stays beside me and acts so warm and familiar for no reason other than wanting to earn my trust."

"I'll gradually make him understand that what he's doing now isn't enough."

"If he wants me to trust him, he'll have to show sincerity."

"And what is sincerity?"

"When a suitable matter comes up, I'll have him handle it. If he wants my trust, he'll have no choice but to do his utmost."

"The deeper he gets, the less able he'll be to pull himself free."

"By then, he'll naturally become one of my people—and I'll naturally learn why he came to me in the first place."

"Some things can't be rushed. You need patience."

"There's a saying: the mantis stalks the cicada, the cicada is not the cicada, while the oriole waits behind."

"Do you understand now?"

"..."

Black Peony had no answer. She almost broke into a cold sweat on Linghu Qiu's behalf.

"What are you standing there for? Let's go."

Black Peony instinctively raised a hand to guard her backside, but she was a step too slow. Niu Youdao had already stolen a quick squeeze and darted away like a thief.

Her eyes rolled repeatedly as she cursed, "Heartless bastard."

Yet a faint smile appeared in her eyes. Niu Youdao had gradually begun taking such liberties with her. Their relationship was plainly much closer than before. That was a good sign...

"What's the situation?"

Niu Youdao arrived at the small courtyard where Feng Entai and the other Tianyu Sect disciples were staying. Linghu Qiu was pacing there with his hands clasped behind his back. Niu Youdao came over and asked the question. Linghu Qiu lifted his chin toward a room with all its doors and windows tightly shut.

"Old Feng has locked himself inside and refuses to come out. Probably facing the wall to reflect on his mistakes."

"You still have the mood to joke?" Niu Youdao gave him a disdainful look.

Then he beckoned over a Tianyu Sect disciple.

"Have your Martial Uncle come out."

The disciple said, "Martial Uncle refuses to come out for some reason. He told us not to disturb him."

Niu Youdao tucked both hands into his sleeves and called loudly, "Brother Feng! We've come to say farewell. We're heading back to Qingshan Commandery first. Take care of yourself!"

Linghu Qiu could not help laughing. He pointed at Niu Youdao from a distance as though saying, You really are wicked. Yet the shout worked remarkably well.

Creak!

The door opened.

Feng Entai flashed out in an instant and called loudly, "Little Brother, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

His appearance was terrible. Both eyes were bloodshot. His beard and hair had been scratched into a complete mess. One glance was enough to tell how anxious he had been. Linghu Qiu and Niu Youdao exchanged a look. They could understand his anxiety. Niu Youdao understood it more deeply than Linghu Qiu. Tianyu Sect had sent Feng Entai here to take charge of the warhorse affair. He had accomplished nothing all this time and had already suffered considerable losses.

That was why Tianyu Sect had finally found a way to bring in the three sects and Niu Youdao.

And now?

The original task still had not been completed, yet he had also managed to ruin the support Tianyu Sect later sent him. Niu Youdao's side had already secured Tianyu Sect's promise concerning the liquor profits. They could simply leave. What would Feng Entai do then? He had been unable to settle the matter before. Could he suddenly settle it now? Failing to obtain the warhorses while also causing Tianyu Sect to surrender part of its profits was one thing.

Possibly bringing down a catastrophe capable of destroying the entire sect was another. The trouble was enormous. Once Tianyu Sect received the news, they might very well want to skin him alive. Feng Entai caught hold of Niu Youdao's arm with extraordinary warmth.

"We're all serving Commandery Prince Yongping. The matter isn't finished yet. For you to abandon Tianyu Sect and leave hardly seems right."

Niu Youdao sighed. "Didn't you say last night that once the things were given to you, my task would count as complete?"

"Brother Feng, don't tell me you want to go back on your word. We have it written in black and white."

Feng Entai forced out a smile. "Little Brother, there's no need to rush off."

"I was muddleheaded last night and made a terrible mistake."

"How about this? I'll return the exit permits for those one hundred thousand warhorses to you."

The Tianyu Sect disciples nearby were shocked. The things everyone outside was talking about had actually been transferred into Tianyu Sect's hands? How had Martial Uncle dared accept something so dangerously hot?

Niu Youdao asked, "Brother Feng, Old Feng, Master Feng—are you joking with me?"

"Do you take me for deaf or blind? Do you think I don't know what's happening outside?"

"Doing this is going too far!"

"Every mistake is mine. It's all my fault." Feng Entai abandoned all concern for face and repeatedly cupped his hands in apology.

He pleaded, "Little Brother, here's what I mean. The rumors outside say those things are in your hands."

"Could you delay making our agreement public and bear the matter for a while first...?"

Niu Youdao waved a hand and cut him off. "There's no point spouting nonsense."

"You and I both understand perfectly well what's happening."

"Right now, countless eyes outside are probably fixed on this place. The only thing they haven't done yet is come straight to the door and seize the permits."

"If this weren't the Qi capital, who knows how many people would already have killed their way in?"

"You want to leave? Can you even get away?"

"From this moment on, anyone walking out of this courtyard can forget about slipping away easily. Any one of them could be seized on the road and kept as a hostage for later use."

"Fine. Suppose I shoulder this affair and let your people get away for the moment."

"What about me?"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Later, who knows how many people will come demanding the permits from me. Can I stand against all of them?"

"How many people would that force me to offend?"

"I'd have to be tired of living."

"My only choice would be to produce the evidence and prove that the permits were given to Tianyu Sect."

"Once countless people start surrounding you and blocking your way, how confident are you that you'll still make it back to Tianyu Sect?"

"Brother Feng, listen to one piece of advice."

"Go outside right now and, in front of everyone, give the permits to someone else!"

"Once they're out of your hands, we'll finally have some peace."

"Otherwise, keeping those things really will get people killed."

"You could throw every disciple Tianyu Sect has into this and there still wouldn't be enough of them for the people outside to kill!"

[End of Chapter 295]